Greater efforts are needed in face of the new challenges and opportunities, in promoting world peace and development and in realizing the peaceful coexistence of all peoples, Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Bucharest Monday.

Peace and development are still the main themes in the current times. Maintaining world peace and promoting common prosperity is a shared hope of people the world over, but uncertainties affecting peace and development are also growing, Hu, who is in Romania for a three-day state visit, said in a speech at the Romanian Parliament.

To realize the peaceful coexistence of all peoples, the Chinese president urged increased efforts in three areas:

-- Adhering to the principle of mutual trust and benefit, equality and coordination and achieving common security for all countries;

-- Sticking to all-around, coordinated and sustainable development and working for common prosperity for all countries;

-- Respecting cultural diversity and realizing common progress of all civilizations.

Speaking of China's achievements in its modernization efforts, Hu said China has made marked progress in boosting productivity and national strength.

Last year, China's gross domestic product (GDP) reached 1.4 trillion US dollars and its GDP per capita exceeded 1,000 dollars, Hu said, adding that the country has set the goals for growth in the first two decades of the 21st century to achieve a GDP of 4 trillion dollars and GDP per capita 3,000 dollars by 2020.

The Chinese president also noted that this year will mark the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the five principles of peaceful coexistence, which have been recognized as the guidelines for developing ties of friendly cooperation between countries.

The five principles, introduced in June 1954, are mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.

The goal of China's foreign policy is to safeguard world peace and promote common development, Hu said. He pledged that China will make unremitting efforts to deepen the friendship between the Chinese and other peoples and promote the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the rest of the world.

China will pursue an independent foreign policy, adhere to the road of peaceful development and develop friendly ties with other countries on the basis of the five principles of peaceful coexistence, Hu added.

(Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2004)